The number of whites put to death for rape also increased in the early twentieth century, but the numbers were far smaller for African Americans. The crimes for which other racial groups were put to death underwent little change. The great majority of these groups, around 90%, were executed for offenses that involved the death of a victim. Native Americans and Hispanics were occasionally executed for rape, but the number was few.
In Coker v. Georgia (1977), the Supreme Court found that death penalty for the offense of rape is unconstitutional. Coker had contended in his brief to the Supreme Court that the death penalty was tainted by an unallowable degree of racial bias. Coker presented proof that over a twenty-year era in the South, black
In Coker v. Georgia (1977), the Supreme Court found that death penalty for the offense of rape is unconstitutional. Coker had contended in his brief to the Supreme Court that the death penalty was tainted by an unallowable degree of racial bias. Coker presented proof that over a twenty-year era in the South, black